Name: Battling Levinsky Career Record: click Alias: Barney Williams Birth Name: Barney Lebrowitz Nationality: US American Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Born: 1891-06-10 Died: 1949-02-12 Age at Death: 57 Stance: Orthodox Height: 5′ 11″ World Light-Heavyweight Champion from 1916 to 1920, Battling Levinsky began his boxing career under the name Barney Williams. However, the former Barney Lebrowitz received little attention until he took on a manager named “Dumb” Dan Morgan in 1913, who changed Barney’s name and his boxing fortunes. True to his new name, Battling Levinsky fought 37 times in 1914—9 times in the month of January alone. In January 1915, he began the year with three 10-round bouts on New Year’s Day—1 each in Brooklyn, Waterbury, Connecticut, and New York City. After two title-match losses to Light Heavyweight Champion Jack Dillon, (April 1914 and April 1916), Levinsky wrested the crown from Dillon on October 24, 1916. Fifty-nine bouts later, almost four years to the day, he lost his championship to France’s Georges Carpentier. In an era when boxing titles changed hands only because of a knockout— non-KO championship fights were labeled “no decision”—Levinsky fought all comers, including heavyweight champions-to- be Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey (losing both matches). Levinsky loved to fight, although his claim to having fought as many as 500 bouts is impossible to substantiate. His official professional record: 287 bouts—won 192 (34 KOs), lost 52, drew 34, 9 no-decisions. Levinsky was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1966. Lincoln Daily News 10 June 1915 Jewish Athlete a Foxy Boxer. Battling Levinsky, the Jewish light heavyweight who at one time looked like a rising- champion of the world, will pass his twenty-fourth milestone tomorrow. Not so very long ago Dumb Dan Morgan, the well-known tongue-tied two-legged sphinx, was proclaiming the Hebrew battler the "white heavyweight champion of the world." and was offering: to match him against Jack Johnson. As for Jess Willard and Jim Coffey??? well, take It from Dumb Dan, those fighters had cold chills whenever the name of Levinsky was uttered in their presence. Since those halcyon days of Levinsky's career he has had much hard sledding and has not lived up to his early promise. He has even been outpointed by George One-Round Davis, of Buffalo, who has been whipped by most of the heavies in the biff business. Levinsky has also been outpointed by Tom McCarty, the Montana fighter, and other second-raters, and had to travel his fastest to get a draw with Porky Flynn. Levinsky was born in Philadelphia on June 10, 1891, and, it is said, his real name is Barney Lebrowitz He first appeared in the ring in 1910, when he fought under the name of Barney Williams. The Hebrew took part in twenty five bouts that year, winning about a third of 'em by knockouts. In 1911 he defeated Leo Houck and Jeff Clark, among others. In 1912 the Battler was a very busy boxer, participating in about thirty contests. He fought Eddie McGoorty to a draw in Philadelphia, outpointed Joe Grim in the same city, defeated Tony Caponi in Atlanta, outpointed Dick Gilbert four times in Jacksonville,Fla., and met many other good men. He began the 1913 campaign by fighting One-Round Davis and Jack (Twin) Sullivan in Buffalo, and it was in that year that the obscure Philadelphia middleweight began to be touted as a coming heavyweight champion. His bouts with Jim Coffey and Jim Flynn in New York showed lots of class, and the sport writers began to dig up statistics showing- that Levinsky's weight, which is around 170 pounds, was no bar to heavyweight championship aspirations. His victory over Gunboat Smith was hailed as a great triumph, but since then the Hebrew has been defeated by the Gunboat in New Orleans. Levinsky is still young, and, in spite of recent reverses, he may yet attain the championship goal.. He is five feet and eleven inches in height, is a natural fighter, thinks quickly, has a fine knowledge of the finer points of the game, a good wallop, speed and stamina, and is game. With those qualities he ought to travel far, and while alibis get a fighter nothing, it must be remembered that a boxer is a human being and subject to off days like the rest of us. Levinsky was educated in the Philadelphia schools and started life as a clerk in a Jewelry store. He became interested in boxing through his friendship with a pugilist to whom he sold a chunk of ice, and joined an amateur club. One night Levinsky strayed by mistake into a labor union meeting, and came under suspicion of being a spy. The whole bunch lit on him, but Levinsky knocked down six men Dan Morgan says so -and got away. That put the idea into his head that maybe he could make more money by boxing than in the Jewelry business. 'He soon 'put the idea into effect, and made his ring debut under the name of Barney Williams, which remained his fighting name for three years, when he adopted the name of Levinsky, which, if not the name he was born with, at least indicated his racial origin. The Bridgeport Telegram 28 May 1918 Levinsky Bests Bartley Madden In Stirring Bout Hebrew Heavyweight Outpoints New Yorker in Fifteen Hard Rounds Madden's Judgment Bad Levinsky Slugged All Through In a furious toe to toe struggle, Battling Levinsky of this city defeated Bartley Madden of New York at the Casino last night in the Boxing bill presented by the Laksco Club. For heavyweights the men put up a fast battle and strange though it may seem the big battler waded in and fought like a slugger. He lit Madden from all angles and hammered the New Yorker but his blows glanced off the New Yorker like water from the back of a duck. Madden was not in the best of shape being woefully weak on judgment and missed many blows that he had billed to stop the local Hebrew. Madden, however, did succeed in rapping Levinsky four fairly hard ones and on one occasion that being the last and fifteenth round he uncorked a right to the head which staggered Levinsky. However, Levinsky was not dazed by the blow but went after Madden and both were battling s hard at the bell. Madden's appearance last night was his first since he kayoed Jim Coffey in Providence five months ago and he carried some excess baggage about the waist line. On points Levinsky had ten rounds. Madden was entitled to three and two were even. Madden was in no danger of a knockout at any time and the same could be of Levinsky. When it is taken into consideration that the battlers of last night's main event were heavyweights the bout was exceptionally fast with both men giving and taking with the emphasis on the taking for Madden. However Madden merely smiled on being subjected to a fusillade of wallops from Levinsky and on one occasion thrust out his jaw for Levinsky to assail. When Madden scored on Levinsky the crowd went wild and at the close he was greeted with hearty applause. This is the third meeting of' Madden and Levinsky. The first one, a ten rounder four years ago in New York was a draw. The second one was in Boston for twelve rounds and the referee decided that the bout was a draw. Madden proved himself last night to be a game courageous miller and one who is willing to mix at all times but he was sadly lacking in knowledge of the game. His punch when it landed full force hurt Levinsky but he was too tired to follow up. The bout by rounds: First Round. Levinsky scored with his left to jaw. Levinsky forced the battling, fighting hard with a left hook. Levinsky feinted and hooked his right to jaw. Levinsky. Fought hard, scoring with lefts and rights. The Battler was slugging hard. Levinsky's round. Second Round. Levinsky landed lefts and rights in rapid style. Madden rushed Levinsky to the ropes. Levinsky sent a hard, left to jaw. Madden missed a left jaw. Madden scored with a right to face. Levinsky hooked left to face and right to face. At close quarters Levinsky worked hard. Madden missed a left swing jto jaw and also missed a right. Levinsky was slugging hard. Levinsky's round. Third Round. Both men went hard at it. Levinsky landed a left to jaw and jabbed his left into Madden's face. Madden wrestled Levinsky to the ropes. Madden received a wallop over the left eye opening an old cut. Levinsky jabbed his left into Madden's face. Madden rushed and missed a terrific right swing. Levinsky jabbed with both hands and at the end both men were halting against the ropes. Levinsky's round. Fourth Round. Both rushed into action. Levinsky jabbed Madden in face repeatedly. Levinsky hit Madden with a straight left to face. At close quarters Levinsky hooked and jolted to the head and body. Madden landed a hard left to the body. Madden landed left to face Madden's wild right swing landed on Levinsky's face. Madden's round. Fifth Round. Levinsky jabbed Madden in the face. Madden missed a left swing. Madden landed a right to Levinsky's jaw. Levinsky sent left to body. Madden took two more in the body and three in face.